"A cemetery may be considered as abandoned when all or practically all of the bodies have been Removed therefrom and no bodies have been buried therein for a great many years, and the cemetery has been so long neglected as entirely to lose its identity as such, and is no longer known, recognized and respected by the public as a cemetery. 1953 OAG 2978."

I apologize for the late notice as I just learned about the tour today.

Please click on title to read the newspaper story published on May 24, 2013 to learn more about the tour of the Mansfield (Richland County) Cemetery today as well as news of other nearby cemetery tours coming up soon!

Remembering my early pioneer Limes ancestor, William Limes, who was born in 1778 and
died in 1863. He led a colorful and adventuresome life. In death, he
created some controvery about his Will amongst his children.

He was the Limes' family's only known direct ancestor that served in the
War of 1812 where the soldiers brought their own rifles with them when
they went to serve. He owned land in Ohio that straddled two counties
and land in Kansas, I later learned, that he never settled himself.

I've tried to learn as much as I could about William Limes and his
family,and have shared some of it on his Find A Grave memorial. He and his wife, Athaliah (Doster) Limes were buried at a Quaker Cemetery; Walnut Creek in Perry Township, Fayette County, Ohio. Today, across the street from Walnut Creek Cemetery is the sprawling Buckeye Hills Golf Course.
We can only imagine the hardships he endured during his lifetime which
was considerably more primitive in many aspects than what ours is today.

The original stone for William Limes that was donated to the Fayette County Historical Society in Washington Court House, Ohio. A scanned image of a drawing of his protrait sits in front of it.

Champaign County Preservation Alliance

Historic Markers at Ohio Cemeteries

Side by Side Comparison of a Gravestone Polished with a Power Tool

This gravestone was repaired, cleaned, and polished sometime in 2013 - 2014. While the repair work to the cracks appears to have been done in an acceptable manner, however, the unnaturally bright white and shiny highly polished surface finish is indicative of other gravestones in this cemetery that have been known to be polished using a Nyalox Brush on a Power Drill. This gravestone had clear deeply carved lettering and motif that were diminished by the abrasiveness of the use of a power tool. Using power tools on gravestones is not condoned by nationally recognized professional gravestone organizations and their conservators such as NCPTT and A.G.S.

Linda Ellis and Original Gravestone of Harmon Limes, Jr.

At the Champaign County Ohio Historical Society Museum - October 6, 2013

Ohio Township Association

Photo of the Month - March 2017

The Graveyard Rabbit

A member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits - Logo design courtesy of Footnotemaven

A Forgotten Gravesite

A Forgotten Veteran

Do Not Add Paint to Granite Grave Markers

Peeling paint on a granite grave marker

Do Not Move Gravestones Away from Their Original Gravesites

Don't move a gravestone away from its original gravesite even if it is broken. Once the 'stones are no longer over the bones' it can be impossible to know for sure where they should be; and the actual location of the burial and gravesite is uncertain because the stone was moved away from it.

Detrimental Effects from Nyalox Nylon Brush Use on a Gravestone Can be Seen in a Few Short Years

From Brad Manzenberger: "Critics of D2 have questioned its use because "we don't know what it is going to do to the stone in 50 years." What they never seem to question is what Nyalox brushes on drills will do to a stone in 50 years. The answer to both questions is that we do not know. However, I can show example after example of stones cleaned with Nyalox within the last decade that may actually look worse in some cases than they did before any work was done. This is at Livezey Cemetery, Prairie Twp., Henry Co., IN."

"Buried Beneath Cleveland : Lost Cemeteries of Cuyahoga County" By William G. Krejci

GRAVESTONE PRESERVATION SUPPLIERS

"SAVING MISS EMILY" BY JONATHAN APPELL

RAPID ASSESSMENT FORM

Cemetery Assessment Form from the National Park Service's National Center for Preservation Technology and Training

PRESERVING AND RESTORING BRONZE GRAVE MARKERS AND MEMORIALS

Bronze Grave Markers:

Dennis Montagna, Historian at the National Park Service:For those who have questions on the subject of bronze grave markers and memorials, please contact Mr. Dennis Montagna, Historian at the National Park Service at his email address below to ask questions for one-on-one guidance for their care and restoration: